Test means for high-pressure fluid medium containers



D. MAPES Jan. 14,1941.

TEST MEANS FOR HIGH PRESSURE FLUID MEDIUM CONTAINERS Filed Sept. 26. 1944 4 TORNEY Patented Jan. 14, 1947 UNITED STATES v PATENroi-Ticr:

I riis'r MEANS memoir-PRESSURE FLUID MEDIUMCONTAINERS, I I

Daniel Mapes, West Caldwell, .N. 1:, Signor to Specialties Development Corporatlony-Bloomfield, N. J.,acorporation oi NewJersey 1 Applicationseptember 26, 1944, Serial No. 555,371

This invention relates to containers for pressure fluid medium, and more particularly to discharge heads for such containers provided with means for facilitating hydrostatically testiug the heads and containers.

Containers for storing high pressure fluid medium, such as compressed or liquefied gasses, are l required to be tested initially and retested period ically to determine whether or not they can safely withstand the internal pressures to which they normally may be subjected. To accomplish this purpose, the containers are filled completely with a testing fluid, such as water, and are subjected to a hydrostatic pressure of certain value for a predetermined period of time. Thereafter, the testing fluid is drained from the containers, and the containers which have passed the test may be filled or refilled with the high pressure fluid medium to be stored therein.

Heretofore it has been customary to discon nect the discharge head from the containerwhile conducting the test. Since the discharge head is secured to the container by a tightly fitting threaded connection, frequent removal and re-,

placement of the discharge head damages the threads. This results in apoor connection which is ineffective to confine the pressure medium in,

5 Claims. (01. 73-37) test meansadapted to be incorporated in a standard discliargehead.

Another object is to provide a device, of the above indicated character, which is simple and durable in construction, economical to manufac uture, and effective in its operation.

Other objects of the inventionwillbe obvious uponan understanding of the illustrative embodimentsabout to be described, or will be marcated in the appended claimaand various advantagesnot referred to herein will occur to one the container against leakage, and in some in stances results in the discharge head being dislodged from the container with explosive violence by the stored high pressure medium. It has been proposed to eliminate the necessity of removing the discharge head, during hydrostatic testing,

by providing the container with an auxiliary opening, but such openings weaken the container structure and provide additional points at which Another object is to provide a discharge head having means for hydrostatically testing high pressure fluid medium containers.

charging containers with a test fluid and completely removing thetest fluid therefrom.

Another object is to provide novel and effective let M constitute a main conduit of the discharge head. i

. l5 adaptedior connectionto a hose which con;

skilled in theart upon employment "of the invention inpractice.

Preferred embodiments of the invention have been chosen forpurposes of illustration and description and are shownin the accompanying drawing, forming a part of the specification,

wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partially in section, of a dischargehead connected to a con- 'tainer illustrating an embodiment of the inven tion. i

Figure 2 is a fragmentary ing the testing operation. a

Figure Bis a view, similar to Figural, oi" the invention in modified form., r 7

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a metallic container l of generally cylindrical shape adapted for storing high pressure fluid mediums such as liquid carbon dioxide. The container 1' is constructed in a usual manner having a constricted tubular neck 8 towhich a discharge head in is' secured, as by a tubular portion l l screw threaded or otherwise fitted in the neck.

The discharge head in has an inlet bore l2 in the portion II and has an outlet l4 communicateing with the bore 12 and terminating in a nipple ducts the'stored medium to a point of discharge. A syphon tube It is secured to the tubularpor tion H of the discharge head in in communica tion with the bore 12, and extends intothe con 50 Another object is to provide a discharge head, of the foregoing character adapted to facilitatetainer i to a position close to the bottom or closed end of the container. Theinlet bore l2 and out A valve seat I8 is form d intermediate the inlet bore I 2 and the outlet M for receiving a'valve member 20 adapted to control the discharge of the fiuidmediumirom the container 1. A handwheel and a threaded stem 24 are provided to operate the valvermember 20. 1

A safety .discharge assembly.25 comprising a safety disc30 and an apertured plug 32 is proview of a portion of Figure 1, showing an adaptor plug employed dur vided in a recess 21 in the side of the tubular portion II at the outside of the container 1, for discharging the contents of the container 1 through a safety discharge opening 28 and the plug 32 in the event that the pressure within the container exceeds a safe working pressure. The

safety discharge of the contents of the container 1 is controlled by the safety disc 30 held in position by the plug 32 and adapted to be ruptured by excessive pressure.

In accordance with the invention in the form shown in Figure l, a test circuit conduit 34 is formed in the tubular portion Ii, separated from the inlet bore i2, and extending from a position in communication with the interior of the container 1 to a short conduit 26 of the test circuit extending laterally of the tubular portion ii, to the recess 21.

In this construction, the valve member 20 normally closes one end of a fluid circuit through the bore l2, the syphon tube ll, the container I, the test circuit conduits 34 and 36 to the recess 21, which is normally closed by the safety disc 30 as held by the plug 32.

Referring to Figure 2, an adaptor plug 40 is shown connected in the recess 21 which comprises an inner tip end portion 42 of larger diameter than the opening, 28 and adapted for closing the latter, and of smaller diameter than the recess 21 which, with a body portion 44 screw threadedly fitting the recess 21, provides an annular recess 46 in communication with the conduit 38. A conduit 48 in the plug 40 extends from the annular recess 46 through the body 44 of the plug, and through a nipple portion 50 thereof, for discharge of the test fluid, as through a hose, attached to the nipple ill, to a receptacle or drain.

By the construction of the plug 40 as above 7 stated, whereby the conduit 48 communicates with the annular recess 46, the opening '48 may assume any position about the axis of the recess 48 necessary to have the tip end portion 42 in tight sealingrelati'on to the conduit 28, the conduit 48 being shown in this instance in registry with the conduit 36 Referring to Figure l, the parts areshown'in the normal positions thereof when the container 1 contains fluid medium. When the latter is to be discharged, it is only necessary to turn the handwheel 22 tolift the 'valve member 20 from the valve seat ll, whereupon the fluid medium passes from the container 1 through the syphon tube It, the bore l2 and the outlet l4 to the point of discharge.

In the testing operation, to fill the container 1, with a testing fluid, for example water, the valve member 20 is unseated. The plug 22 is unscrewed and the disc 30' is removed, and replaced by the plug 40 which is screwed into the recess-21' toprovide for the escape of air from the container through'its opening 48. With the container 1 fllled through the inlet l4,the opening 48 of the plug 40 is closed by a cap or the like (not shown), applied to the nipple I and pressure is applied through the inlet l4 to the test fluid to determine the condition of the seals at the stem 24, the recess 21, and between the tubular portion 1 I and the neck 8, and to hydrostatically test the container 1 for possible defects.

The test fluid is removed from the container by way of the nipple "while the valve member 20 is unseated and the opening, 48 is unclosed, by inverting the container to allow the test fluid to drain by gravity. If the test fluid used is 4 l water, any water in the syphon tube- I 8 discharges through the bore l2 and the ,outlet l4 and water in the container 1 drains through the conduit 34 and the conduit 36 to the recess 21.

During the draining operation, with the plug 40 in the recess 21, hose connections may be provided for the nipple l5 of the outlet l4, and the nipple 50 of the plug 40 to carry the water to a point of disposal away from the testing position.

After the bulk of the water is drained, with the plug 40 placed in the recess 21 to; close the conduit 28. a hose is coupled to the outlet M for blowing compressed air or the like through the bore i2 and the syphon tube It to the container 1 and, from the latter, through the conduits 34, 3B and 48 directly to the atmosphere or through a hose attached to the nipple 50. The air serves to expel the last traces of water from the container and the discharge head. If desired, dry hot air may be utilized for blowing out the container to provide a drying action to effect removal of all traces of moisture.

Referring to Figure 3, in which corresponding parts are designated by corresponding reference numerals, the structure is quite similar to that of Figures 1 and 2, except that the safety assembly 26 and the safety disc 30 are replaced by a plug for closing the opening 28 during the foregoing described test to prevent rupturing of the safety disc.

A conduit 54, corresponding somewhat to the conduit 34 of Figures 1 and 2, but different in that it does not communicate with the recess 21, extends through the tubular portion II from the inner end thereof, to a conduit 66 which extends'laterally of the side wall therein to a recess 58 in the side wall outside the container 1. The recess 58 is normally sealed, as by a gasket Bland a plug 62, which may be, replaced by a nipple or hose connector.

In. Figure 3, the parts are also shown in the normal position thereof when the container 1 contains the stored fluid medium, which for discharge requires only the turning of the handwheel 22 to unseat the valve member 20, whereupon the medium passes from the container 1, through the syphon tube IS, the bore I2 and the outlet I4,

In testing the structure of Figure 3, to fill the container 1, the valve member 20 is unseated and, with the plug 62 partially or fully removed from its sealing position to vent the fluid circuit, water is admitted through the outlet l4. The adaptor 40 will be used to close oil theopening 28.

By screwing down or replacing the plug 62, g and the gasket 60, the above described pressure test may be effected through the outlet i4.

Drainage and drying are also effected as dego scribed in connection with Figures 1 and 2.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the present invention provides an improved discharge head for a standard high pressure fluid medium container which cooperates with the 65 container, to produce a novel test circuit of better effect in filling, testing, emptying and drying the containerand the discharge head. It provides better working conditions at the place of testing, is better organized in its mode of operation, is more certain in its results, and has many other advantages. The discharge head is rugged in construction and can readily withstand any rough usage to which it may be subjected.

As various changes may be made in the form,

construction and arrangement of the parts herein, without depnrtii'ig from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a. matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

I claim:

1. The combination of a. container for a high pressure fluid medium, the container having a constricted outlet neck, a discharge head embodying a, tubular portion mounted in said neck,

having an inner bore and an outlet portion from,

said bore, said discharge head having an exterior side recess outside the container extending latorally of said tubular portion, and a. safety discharge conduit extending from said recess to said inner bore and being of smaller diameter than the recess to thereby form a shoulder, said discharge head also having a test conduit extending laterally of said tubular portion between said shoulder and a, position short of said inner bore, there being a, test conduit in said tubular portion communicating between the interior of said container and said first test conduit, 9. safety disc in said recess over said shoulder sealing said safety discharge conduit and said first test conduit, a safety plug in said recess, holding said disc in position, a syphon tube secured to said tubular portion in communication with said bore and extending into the container, and a. discharge valve for said outlet portion.

2. The combination of a container for a. high,

pressure fluid medium, the container having a.

constricted outlet neck, a discharge head embody-- ing a tubular portion mounted in said neck, having on inner bore and an outlet portion from saidbore, said discharge head having an exterior side recess outside the container extending latorally of said tubular Portion, and a safety discharge conduit extending from said recess to said inner bore and being of smaller diameter than the recess to thereby form a shoulder, said discharge head also having a test conduit extending laterally of said tubular portion between said shoulder and a. position short of said inner bore, a test conduit in said tubularportion communicating between the interior of said container and said first test conduit, 5 safety disc in said recess over said shoulder sealing said safety discharge conduit and said first test conduit, 9, safety plug in said recess holding said disc in position, a syphon tube secured to said tubular portion in communication with said bore and extending into the container, a. discharge valve for said outlet portion, and a. test plug adapted to replace 'said safety plug having an inner end portion for closing said safety discharge conduit, said inner end portion cooperating with a body portion of the test plug and a portion of the discharge head about said recess to form an annular chamber about said inner end pressure fluid medium, the container having a constricted outlet neck, a discharge head embodying a tubular portion mounted in said neck having an inner bore and an outlet portion from said bore, said discharge head having an exterior side recess outside the container extending laterally of said tubular portion, and a, safety discharge conduit extending from said recess'to said inner bore and being of smaller diameter than the recess to thereby form a shoulder, a safety disc in said recess over said shoulder sealing said safety discharge conduit, a plug in said recess holding said disc in position, said discharge head also having a second exterior side recess outside the container extending laterally of said tubular portion, a, test conduit extending lateral- 1y of said tubular portion between said second recess and a. position short of said inner bore, a. test conduit in said tubular portion communicatlag between the interior of said container and said first test conduit, a plug in said second recess a syphon tube secured to said tubular portion in communication with said bore and extending into the container, and a, discharge valve for said outlet portion.

4. A valve head comprising a body having a portion adapted to be secured to the neck of a. container and having a, main conduit extending iron: the underside of said portion to the exterior of said body. valve means for controlling said conduit, a. syphon tube in communication with said conduit at the underside of said portion, there being a. safety discharge conduit extending from said main conduit to the exterior of the body, said body having an auxiliary conduit independent of said main conduit and extending from the underside of said portion adjacent said syphon tube to the exterior of said body, and means for closing said auxiliary conduit.

5. In combination, a container having a. neckportion provided-with an outlet, a valve body having a Plug portion extending into said outlet and having a main conduit extending from the base of said plug portion to the exterior of said body, valve means for controlling said conduit. a. syphon tube in said container secured to said plug portionand in communication with said conduit, there being a safety discharge conduit extending from said main conduit to the exterior of said plug portion, said body having an auxiliary conduit independent of said main conduit and extending from the base of said plug portion adjacent said syphon tube to the exterior of said body, whereby liquid trapped between the inner walls of said container at said neck portion and said syphon tube at the base of said plug portion can be drained through said auxlllary conduit, and means for closing said auxiliary'conduit.

i DANIEL MAPES. 

